Violent video games and aggressive behavior

119 Pages·2015·0.47 MB·English

by  Paden R. Goldsmith

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Dissertations and Theses @ UNI Student Work
2014
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Paden R. Goldsmith
University of Northern Iowa
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2014
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VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR:
MORTALITY SALIENCE AND THE HOSTILE ATTRIBUTION BIAS

An Abstract of a Thesis
Submitted
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Arts

Paden R. Goldsmith
University of Northern Iowa
August 2014
ABSTRACT
Research indicates that one of the most popular forms of media, violent video games can
increase aggressive behavior and cognitions (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). Prior
research has examined the effects of these media using the General Aggression Model
(GAM; Anderson & Bushman, 2001; Bushman & Anderson, 2002). The current study
examines an alternative method by which video games (and other forms of media) can
encourage aggressive behaviors, via mortality salience effects. The current study used a
2 (mortality salience vs absence) x 2 (violent video games vs nonviolent video games)
experimental design to examine the role of mortality salience and violent video game
primes on aggressive cognitions and endorsed harm towards out-group members.
Participants were either primed with mortality salience (or not), viewed footage from a
violent (experimental) or non-violent (control) game, and completed dependent measures
assessing aggressive cognitions and violence towards out-group members. Results
indicate that participants exposed to violent media and mortality salience primes endorse
more harm towards out-group members, and exhibit more aggressive cognitions. Emotion
regulation moderates the relationship between hostile attribution biases and aggressive
cognitions, as well as the relation between death-thought accessibility and aggressive
cognitions, providing a protective effect.
Keywords: Terror Management Theory, GAM, hostile attribution bias, mortality salience,
media, violence, aggression, video game
VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR:
MORTALITY SALIENCE AND THE HOSTILE ATTRIBUTION BIAS

A Thesis
Submitted
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Arts

Paden R. Goldsmith
University of Northern Iowa
August 2014
ii

This Study by: Paden Goldsmith

Entitled: Violent Video Games and Aggressive Behavior: Mortality Salience and the
Hostile Attribution Bias

has been approved as meeting the thesis requirement for the

Degree of Master of Arts

___________ _____________________________________________________
Date Dr. Dilbur D. Arsiwalla, Chair, Thesis Committee

___________ _____________________________________________________
Date Dr. Helen C. Harton, Thesis Committee Member

___________ _____________________________________________________
Date Dr. B. Keith Crew, Thesis Committee Member

___________ _____________________________________________________
Date Dr. Michael J. Licari, Dean, Graduate College
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii

LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1

Violent Media ................................................................................................................1

The General Aggression Model .....................................................................................3

Social Information Processing Theory...........................................................................4

Hostile Attribution Bias and Violent Video Games ................................................7

Aggression and Gender ............................................................................................8

Emotion Regulation and Aggression .....................................................................10

Alternative Explanations for Aggression ...............................................................12

Terror Management Theory .........................................................................................12

Mortality Salience Primes ......................................................................................14

Violent Video Games and Terror Management Theory ........................................16

Mortality Salience and Gender ..............................................................................18

Mortality Salience and Emotion Regulation ..........................................................19

Current Study ...............................................................................................................21

Design ....................................................................................................................22

Hypotheses .............................................................................................................23

CHAPTER 2. METHOD ..................................................................................................26

Participants ..................................................................................................................26
iv

Procedure .....................................................................................................................26

Measures and Materials .........................................................................................28

Mortality salience prime and control ...............................................................28

Emotion dysregulation .....................................................................................29

Death-thought accessibility ..............................................................................29

Hostile attribution bias .....................................................................................29

Aggressive cognitions ......................................................................................30

Endorsement of in- and out-group harm ..........................................................31

Validity ........................................................................................................................31

Ethics…........................................................................................................................32

CHAPTER 3. RESULTS ..................................................................................................34

Findings .......................................................................................................................34

Data Coding and Plan of Analysis ........................................................................34

Preliminary Analyses .............................................................................................35

Moderation with Path Analysis ..............................................................................36

Death-Thought Accessibility Manipulation Check ...............................................37

Research question 1 .........................................................................................37

The Effects of Mortality Salience and Violent Media on
Endorsement of In- and Out-Group Harm .............................................................38

Hypothesis 1: Endorsement of in- and out-group harm ...................................38

The Moderating Effects of Emotion Regulation ....................................................39

Hypotheses 2-3: The moderating role of emotion regulation
for hostile attribution biases and death-thought accessibility on
endorsement of out-group harm .......................................................................39
v

Hypothesis 4: The moderating role of emotion regulation
for the relation of hostile attribution biases
and aggressive cognitions ................................................................................39

Hypothesis 5: The moderating role of emotion regulation
for death-thought accessibility on aggressive cognitions ................................40

The Moderating Effects of Gender ........................................................................41

Hypotheses 6-9: The moderating effects of gender on
death-thought accessibility, and hostile attribution biases,
when predicting endorsement of out-group harm
and aggressive cognitions ................................................................................41

Additional analyses ................................................................................................42

CHAPTER 4. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................43

Summary .....................................................................................................................43

Strengths ......................................................................................................................46

Limitations ...................................................................................................................48

Future Research ...........................................................................................................50

Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................53

REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................54

APPENDIX A: DEMOGRAPHIC MEASURES .............................................................84

APPENDIX B: MORTALITY SALIENCE MANIPULATION .....................................86

APPENDIX C: MORTALITY SALIENCE MANIPULATION CONTROL..................87

APPENDIX D: VIOLENT VIDEO GAME DESCRIPTION ..........................................88

APPENDIX E: NON-VIOLENT VIDEO GAME DESCRIPTION .................................89

APPENDIX F: EMOTION REGULATION SCALE.......................................................90

APPENDIX G: DEATH-THOUGHT ACCESSIBILITY MEASURE ............................93
vi

APPENDIX H: HOSTILE ATTRIBUTION BIAS MEASURE ......................................94

APPENDIX I: DEPENDENT MEASURES ..................................................................102

APPENDIX J: STATE HOSTILITY SCALE ................................................................104

APPENDIX K: CONSENT FORM AND DEBRIEFING PROCESS ...........................105